Soot blower



Dec. 29, 1936. w. P. THOMAS 5001* BLOWER Filed Nov. 21, 1932 Gum/Mm:

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATE PATENT GFFIQE Application November 21, 1932, Serial No. 643.2162

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a soot blower or fluid heater cleaner of the type in which a blower element is arranged to discharge cleaning fluid adjacent the parts of a fluid heater or the like to be cleaned.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a soot blower of the above mentioned character which will include means for cooling the blower element to prevent the same from being destroyed by the heat of the fluid heater in which the blower element is mounted.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved blower unit which will include a passage for the cleaning fluid and one or more additional passages for a cooling fluid, the arrangement being such that thecomposite element or unit so formed will be maintained relatively cool.

The above and numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a soot blower constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Referring then particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, there is disclosed in Fig. 1 a fluid heater such, for example, as a boiler having a wall or setting l5 and the boiler tubes l6. Mounted in an opening in the setting is a wall box I! through which a blower element l8 extends. The blower element is provided with suitable discharge nozzles for directing jets of cleaning fluid adjacent parts of the fluid heater to be cleaned, such, for example, as the boiler tubes 16.

Exteriorly of the setting the blower element is journaled in a-blower head designated generally by thereference character 20. This blower head comprises a gooseneck 2| in which one end of the blower element is journaled to receive cleaning fluid from the same. Cleaning fluid is supplied to the other end of the gooseneckby a supply pipe 22, for-controlling the flow 'of cleaning fluid from the supply pipe to the gooseneck. This head may be conveniently supported from the wall box by there being provided a valve 23- this gear efiects a rotation of the blower element.

For actuating the valve 23 in timed relation to the rotation of the blower element, there is provided a cam 28 fixed for rotation with the gear 21. This cam is arranged to engage a suitable lever 29 which in turn is connected to the valve stem 38) of the valve 23. This is of general construction and provides that as the blower element is rotated, the valve 23 is periodically opened and closed so that cleaning fluid is admitted to the blower element during a portion only of its rotative movement.

The blower element being mounted as it is within the boiler or fluid heater, tends to become extremely hot and the present invention contemplates the provision of means for keeping this blower element relatively cool under all conditions. This cooling is effected by causing a" cool-' ing fluid toflow longitudinally of the element from the outer to the inner end thereof and then back to the outer end of the blower element where the cooling fluid is discharged into a suitable drain or the like. The construction will find particular utility when installed in relatively wide fluid heaters or the like for the reason that in such heaters it is undesirable for the blower element to extend entirely across the same; thus'as illustrated, in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the blower element extends only half way through the fluid heater, there being shown one end of a second blower element It which it will be understood extends from the opposite side of the fluid heater or boiler.

To accomplish the desired cooling the blower element is formed of walls 6!! suitably secured together along longitudinal lines as by welding or the like to form passages iii, 62 and 63. It will be noted that the passage M is substantially oval in section and is disposed'centrally ofthe unit, the passages 62 and 63 being substantially crescent-shaped in section and lying on opposite sides of the passage 6!.

are therefore provided nozzles 64 which commucate with the central passage to providefor the discharge of cleaning fluid therefrom adjacent the parts of the boiler to be cleaned. It

The passage Bl consti-' tutes a passage for the cleaning fluid, and there will be noted that the several walls are so secured to each other that the nozzles 64 may be placed in communication with the passage Bl by passing through a single wall of the composite element or unit l8.

The passages 52 and 63 constitute passages for the cooling fluid, the passage 63 being the cooling fluid inlet passage or the passage through which the cooling fluid flows from the outer to the inner end of the blower element and the passage 52 being the cooling fluid outlet passage or the passage through which the cooling fluid flows from the inner end of the blower element to the outer end thereof. It will be understood that these passages communicatewith each other at the inner or distal end of the blower element, as clearly illustrated at'65 in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

For the purpose of supplying cooling and cleaning fluids to the several passages of the blower unit, the structure shown in Fig. 1 isprovided. By reference to this figure it will be noted that the 'gooseneck is provided with a bearing portion 66 which is chambered to provide an annular chamber 61 which surrounds the blower unit and which communicates with the supply passage in the gooseneck. Formed in the blower element, and communicating with the passage 6| are openings 68, these openings registering with the annular chamber 61 so that cleaning fluid may enter the passage 6| from'the gooseneck. V The blower unit is extended beyond the gooseneck and is journaled in asuitable fitting 10.. This fitting is provided with an annular chamber II into which a fluid discharge pipe 12 is tapped. The blower element is provided with a port 13 which communicates with the passage 62 and registers with the annular chamber H so that cooling fluid in passage 62 may be discharged from this passage by way of chamber 'H' and pipe 12.

The fitting I0 is also provided with an annular chamber 15 into which a fluid supply pipe 16 is tapped. A port 11 formed in the blower element provides communication between chamber 15 and the passage 63 of the blower element so that cooling fluid supplied to the chamber 15 by way of pipe 16 may enter the blower element.

It is believed thatthe operation of the invention will be clearly apparent. Whenever the blower element is rotated the valve 23 will be actuated to'periodically admit cleaning fluid to the passage 6| of the blower unit. This cleaning fluid may be discharged from this passage by way of nozzles'64 to adjacent the parts of the fluid heater to be cleaned.

At all times, regardless of whether the, blower element is discharging cleaning fluid or not, a cooling fluid may flow from supply pipe 76 through chamber 15 and port 11 into the passage 63 of the blower unit. This cooling fluid may flow'longitu'dinally of the'blower unit to the distal end thereof and then flow back through the unit by way of passage 62. This cooling fluid will be discharged from the passage 62 by way of port 13, chamber H and discharge pipe 12. It will be apparent that the passages for the cooling fluid substantially surrounding as they do the cleansufliciently cool to prevent the samefrom being destroyed by the heat to which it is exposed in the fluid heater. The walls of the blower unit being integrally united as they are, will provide for the distribution of the heat to the several walls of the unit by conduction, with the result that the flowing of the cooling fluid through the cool ing fluid passages will maintain the element 0001.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a soot blower which includes a blower element which may be permanently mounted in a fluid heater or the like and which will be so cooled as'not to be destroyed by the heat to which it is exposed. As illustrated,the blower element preferably comprises a composite unit which provides not only a cleaning fluid passage but also passages for a cooling fluid, the latter passages providing that a cooling fluid may flow in reverse directions longitudinally of the blower element.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the descriptionis for the purposes of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes bearing for said pipe and conduit, and means for' rotating said pipe within said bearing, said steam pipe being provided with means for dischargingv steam onto adjacent parts to be cleaned of soot.

2. In combination, in a soot blower, a pipe having perforationsin a wall thereof, a water conduit thermally connected to said pipe, said conduit ex-- tending serially along one side of said pipe and back along another side of said pipe outside of said pipe, bearing meansfor; said pipe and conduit, said bearing means providing a steam space surrounding said pipe and conduit, said pipe hav ing a port communicating with said steam space.- said bearing means also providing a pair of spaced water spaces surrounding said .pipeland conduit, said conduit having a pair of ports communicating with said pair of water spaces for permitting circulation of water through said conduit and means for turning said pipe and conduit within said bearing means. 3. In a soot blower, in combination, a pipe having perforations therein, water conduit means, said conduit means extending serially along one side of said pipe and back along another side of said pipe outside of said pipe, and bearing means for said pipe and conduit means, said bearing means being provided with port means for, ad-

mitting steam to the interior of said pipe, said bearing means being also provided with ports for admitting water to and discharging water from said conduit means. l

4. In a. soot blower, in combination, a pipe having perforations in its wall and water conduit means thermally connected to said pipe, said conduit means extending serially alongone side of saidpipe and backalong another side of said pipe outside of said pipe, a bearing forsaid pipe and conduit means, 'said pipe and conduit means being provided with a cylindrical portion cooperating with said bearing,'and means for communicating a turning movement to said pipe and conduit means. o I

' WILLIS P. THOMAS. 

